System and method for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device

• US 9,847,018 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ray Enterprises Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ray Enterprises Inc.
• Inventors: e Silva, Bernardo Ferreira de Carvalho, Rocha, Daniel Cristiano, Skokna, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Carlos E
• Application Number:
  US14/744,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20150371532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1222, 340 1223, 340 1228
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/10 Power supply of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 : Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 : End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 : specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control

Abstract

A method and system for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device. The method and system include determining a group associated with the universal remote control based on a remote profile stored on at least one of: a memory of the universal remote control device, and a universal remote database hosted on an external server infrastructure. The method and system also include determining an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the group that is associated with the universal remote control device. The method and system additionally include determining a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device. The method and system further include applying the over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the power level of the battery of the universal remote control device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device, comprising:

determining location information for the universal remote control device;

determining a group, wherein the group comprises content service provider data for the universal remote control device, and wherein the group is associated with the universal remote control device based on a remote control profile stored on at least one of;

a memory of the universal remote control device, or a database hosted on an external server infrastructure;

determining an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the group and on the location information for the universal remote control device;

determining that the universal remote control device is being charged;

determining a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device; and

applying the over the air update based on the determination that the universal remote control device is being charged and the power level of the battery of the universal remote control device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including providing an updater user interface on a display of the universal remote control device with user updatable data fields that are linked with the group, receiving data within the user updatable data fields, accessing the remote control profile, and updating the group within the remote control profile with the data received within the user updatable data fields.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the over the air update includes determining that a type of over the air update is a software update, and determining:

the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the software update includes at least one of;

an update of an operating system executed on the universal remote control device, or an update of an application executed on the universal remote control device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the over the air update includes determining that a type of over the air update is a firmware update, and determining the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the firmware update includes an update of the firmware of the universal remote control device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the over the air update includes applying the over the air update that includes is at least one of:

a silent update or an active update, wherein the silent update is executed without any effect on a performance of the universal remote control device and the active update presents one or more interfaces and user input icons during execution of the update.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location information for the universal remote control device comprises identifying a zip code where the universal remote control device is operating or an IP address associated with the universal remote control device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a user content programming preference, wherein determining the over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device is further based on the user content programming preference.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the group associated with the universal remote control device includes extracting data associated with the group from the remote control profile, wherein the group associated with the universal remote control device further comprises at least one of:

a user preference, connected device data, or a software/hardware version for the universal remote control device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the over the air update includes evaluating extracted data pertaining to the group and accessing a central updates repository that is hosted on the external server infrastructure to determine the over the air update that applies to the group.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the over the air update includes downloading the over the air update that applies to the group from the central updates repository hosted on the external server infrastructure to the memory of the universal remote control device.

11. A system for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device, comprising:

a remote control updater utility executed by a control unit of the universal remote control device, wherein the remote control updater utility determines location information for the universal remote control device;

a group determinant module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that determines;

a group, wherein the group comprises content service provider data for the remote control device, and wherein the group is associated with the universal remote control device based on a remote control profile stored on at least one of;

a memory of the universal remote control device, or a database hosted on an external server infrastructure;

an update determinant module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that determines an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based at least in part on the group and on the location information for the universal remote control device;

a battery power level determinant module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that determines that the universal remote control device is being charged and determines a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device; and

an update application module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that applies the over the air update based on the determination that the universal remote control device is being charged and power level of the battery of the universal remote control device.

12. The system of claim 11, further including the remote control updater utility providing an updater user interface on a display of the universal remote control device with user updatable data fields that are linked with the group, receiving data within the user updatable data fields, accessing the remote control profile, and updating the group within the remote control profile with the data received within the user updatable data fields.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the update application module determines that a type of over the air update is a software update and determines:

the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the software update includes at least one of;

an update of an operating system executed on the universal remote control device, or an update of an application executed on the universal remote control device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the update application module determines that a type of over the air update is a firmware update and determines:

the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the firmware update includes an update of the firmware of the universal remote control device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the update application module applies the over the air update that includes is at least one of:

a silent update and an active update, wherein the silent update is executed without any effect on a performance of the universal remote control device, and the active update presents one or more interfaces and user input icons during execution of the update.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the group determinant module extracts data associated with the group from the remote control profile, wherein the group associated with the universal control remote control device further comprises at least one of:

a user preference, connected device data, or a software/hardware version for the universal remote control device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the update determinant module evaluates extracted data associated with the group and accesses a central updates repository that is hosted on the external server infrastructure to determine the over the air update that applies to the group.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the update determinant module downloads the over the air update that applies to the group from the central updates repository hosted on the external server infrastructure to the memory of the universal remote control device.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method, comprising:

determining location information for a universal remote control device;

determining a group, wherein the group comprises content service provider data for the universal remote control device, and wherein the group is associated with the universal remote control device based on a remote control profile stored on at least one of;

a memory of the universal remote control device, or a universal remote database hosted on an external server infrastructure;

determining an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based at least in part on the group and on the location information for the universal remote control device;

determining that the universal remote control device is being charged;

determining a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device; and

applying the over the air update based on the determination that the universal remote control device is being charged and the power level of the battery of the universal remote control device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein determining the over the air update includes evaluating extracted data associated with the group and accessing a central updates repository that is hosted on the external server infrastructure to determine the over the air update that applies to the group.